Child Neglect In Ghana

Many Ghanaian children and adolescents are vulnerable to violence and abuse. Child neglect is rampant predominantly because of the growing incidence of poverty and high number of children, especially among poor families (Britwum et al., 2004). This is reflected by the high number of maintenance cases reported to child welfare agencies. In 2012 the Domestic and Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service recorded 7044 maintenance cases. A lot of families are unable to provide proper nourishment for children resulting in malnutrition and stunting for many children in the country. Primary education is free, but some children drop out of school because parents cannot afford additional educational costs including school uniforms.

The practices include Trokosi, child marriage and sister-in-bed (Tanzaba) contributes to the sexual abuse of girls. Trokosi is a form of ritual servitude common among the Ewes in which girls who are virgins are given to shrines to atone for the sins of a family or as thanks for favours received. The young girls are denied any chance of formal education, healthcare and are sexually abused and impregnated by the priest of the shrine. Another practice is child marriage where girls are given out for marriage in exchange for money or resolve a dispute (Murove, Forbes, Kean, Wamimbi & Germann, 2010). The young girls have to fulfil their responsibilities as a wife including sex which has negative effects on their reproductive health and development. To escape such practices, children run away from their communities to other towns and cities where they add up to the children on the streets. Particularly in rural communities, disabled children are seen as a punishment from the gods and a bad omen. Families ostracise disabled children by abandoning them on river banks or in the forest so that they will return to the spirit world where they belong (Sossou & Yogtiba,